Astrid Render Dece

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Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra was born in Stockholm on November 17, 1905. She was a Princess of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant, and Princess of Sweden. Astrid's father was Prince Charles of Sweden, and her mother was Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Her sister Martha was the Crown Princess of Norway, making Astrid the aunt of King Harald V. Astrid's uncle was Christian X of Denmark, and her grandfather was King Oscar II of Sweden. Through her mother, Astrid descended from King William I. Upon arriving in Antwerp, Astrid forgot all about ceremonial duties and threw herself into the arms of her fiancé. This spontaneous gesture sparked a huge wave of sympathy for the princess among the population. In 1926, Astrid married Belgian Crown Prince Leopold, who would later become King Albert II. After King Albert I's death in 1934, Astrid became Queen of the Belgians. Astrid's royal visit to the nine provincial capitals was a major event, attracting attention from the press and the public. The people donated the diadem of the nine provinces through national subscription. However, there were concerns within the royal family about Astrid's Lutheran background. A few years after her marriage, she converted to Roman Catholicism. The royal couple lived in Brussels initially at the Bellevue Palace before moving to the Stuyvenberg Castle, where their sons Baudouin and Albert were born. Astrid was actively involved in charity work and organized fundraising campaigns for disadvantaged groups. When faced with problems, she would personally research and address them through letters. Tragedy struck in 1935 when Queen Astrid died at the age of 29 in a car accident in Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland. The king lost control of the vehicle, which was traveling incognito under the name Renard, and Astrid was thrown from the car into a tree. She suffered serious head injuries and passed away. Her unborn child also died in the accident. The royal family was plunged into mourning, with many Belgians grieving for their beloved queen who had lost her life at such a young age. The king's children were too young to understand the gravity of the situation, but they remembered their mother's love and kindness. Leopold built a chapel at Küssnacht in memory of Astrid and donated the land to create a memorial. Astrid was buried in a mausoleum at Laeken alongside her husband and his second wife, Lilian. Astrid left behind a lasting legacy as the mother of King Baudouin, King Albert II, and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte. Her children would go on to play important roles in Belgian history, and Astrid's memory continued to be celebrated by the people of Belgium.